Board's decision sparks protests
Nearly 90 percent of Los Primeros students reported absent yesterday
By Michelle Knight knight@theacorn.com

SEBASTIAN RAMIREZ/Acorn Newspapers GETTING HEARD- Frustrated that the Pleasant Valley School Board has put off closing additional schools, teachers at Monte Vista Middle School, above, protested in front of their campus on Wednesday. Yesterday, students and parents from Los Primeros Structured and Camarillo Heights Elementary schools protested at Constitution Park in support of keeping their two schools open.

In the midst of an intense debate over local school closures, Pleasant Valley School District officials have come under fire from parents and teachers who are at odds over whether two additional campuses should be shuttered.

The school board voted last week to close Los Altos Middle School, but opted to wait on closing Los Primeros Structured and Camarillo Heights Elementary schools until the board has met with city officials to discuss the issue.

About a dozen teachers from Monte Vista Middle School demonstrated in front of their campus on Lantana Street Wednesday morning to vent their frustration with the Pleasant Valley school board for failing to act on an advisory committee's recommendation to close three schools.

The teachers carried handmade signs that read "Do what's right, not what's easy" and "Parity now" as they marched for about 20 minutes before classes started.

Parents and students from Los Primeros and Camarillo Heights demonstrated in front of Constitution Park yesterday to protest the possibility of having their schools closed.

Some Los Primeros parents said they don't mind if the school board closes the campus, but they want to be assured the school's programs won't be changed in any way.

An advisory committee and district officials recommended earlier this month that the school board close Camarillo Heights Elementary School, Los Primeros Structured School and Los Altos Middle School. The savings- about $1.5 million- would be used to close a 9 percent teachers' salary gap between the average pay of other teachers throughout the county and those working in the Pleasant Valley School District.

While three trustees were reluctant to close all three schools, the school board voted 5-0 to close Los Altos at the March 15 board meeting. About 400 parents attended the meeting to urge the board to keep their neighborhood school open or school program in intact.

Monte Vista teacher Joan Brown said the board has historically caved in to pressure from parents "rather than do the hard thing but the right thing."

To highlight the teacher salary disparity, Brown said her husband's retirement pay from the Hueneme School District is nearly the same as her full time pay at Pleasant Valley.

Interim Superintendent Ken Moffett said he's not surprised by the teachers' demonstration.

"They're disappointed that a decision wasn't made," Moffett said. "This is about the only way they can get the word out."

Moffett said he hopes that everyone in the community understands that closing schools is a tough decision for school board members to make. A decision that could end their political career, he said.

The protest drew support from at least one parent, who gave a thumbs-up sign as she drove by, and some staff members who joined the teachers.

"I think they should have equal pay compared to other teachers in the county," said school Counselor Gail Barrish.

Whatever decision is made, both sides want a resolution sooner rather than later.

"I'm appalled at this late stage they don't have a plan," said Janni Fang, a Los Primeros parent.

The school board met last night at city hall to discuss the issue further.